How to Delete Collection Companies from Your Credit Report

Discharging entries from collection agencies on a credit report can be irritating. Some collection agencies may be slow in reporting to a credit agency on the status of their loans. Particularly unscrupulous companies may attempt to avoid upholding their agreements, sometimes demanding further payment to expunge an entry on a credit report. Keep accurate records of all dealings with collection agencies and educate yourself on your rights to protect yourself against such fraudulent behavior.

Instructions

Getting Collection Requests off of Your Credit Report

1

Contact the collection agency in writing to inquire about the debt they are attempting to get you to pay. Request that any agreement they make with you be provided in writing. Verbal agreements are not possible to prove. Make copies of all correspondence with the collection agency.

2

Determine whether the collection agency in question has acted legally to collect on your debt. (Read the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Brochure listed in the Resources section below.) If you have written proof that they have violated federal or state debt collection laws, you may not be obligated to pay them, and they may have to expunge their collection request from your credit report.

3

Follow the terms of any agreement that you reach with the collection agency. Make any payments that are necessary. Request directly that the collection be removed from your credit report as part of the terms of your agreement.

4

Wait for your credit report to be altered. If the entry is not corrected as per the terms of your agreement with the collection agency, file a dispute with the original company to which you owe a debt, along with copies of all relevant documentation such as cleared checks, bank records, correspondence, and receipts.

5

Consider waiting seven years for the collection request to be expunged from your credit report. This is the most damaging path to take for your credit score, but credit reporting companies are required to remove even unpaid collection requests from your report seven years after the initial claim.